A mother-daughter duo can say something not many can.
They both finished in the top of their class in high school and they graduated from college at the same time.
Cassidy Ball and her mother, Patti, walked the stage in December to obtain their degrees from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
“I have always valued education, and it was something that was taken from me years ago that I always desired to finish,” Patti said. “I wanted to see my girls continue to do well and complete their education, and I knew that meant me setting the example. My daughters (Cassidy and Callie) were fully on board and supportive, and after taking very full loads, summer and winter semester classes, and working full time and volunteering at our church, it worked out to where our graduations lined up to be one day apart. My daughter’s encouragement was what spurred me on to make the sacrifice and commit to seeing this through.”
Cassidy, a Stanly Early College High School graduate and a bachelor’s in business administration degree recipient, most recently obtained her master’s in business administration, finishing with a 4.0.
All of this was done before she turned 21.
Cassidy has received many honors during her collegiate career, including being named the 2023 Outstanding MBA Student of the Year as an online student, an alumni officer and ambassador at The Graduate Student Organization at UNCP, a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (International Business Honor Society), Future Business Leaders of America and the Alpha Chi Honor Society, of which her mom was also a member.
Patti gained her degree in interdisciplinary studies at UNCP, where she transferred her music studies credits from Southeastern Louisiana University.
“I am so glad that I had the privilege of graduating with my momma,” Cassidy said. “It is not every day you get to watch your momma, who has poured so much into you and given you your love for education, walk across the graduation stage and receive her degree. It was not only inspiring, it made me proud. Proud to be the daughter of such an accomplished woman who wasn’t afraid of what people might say or the workload associated with working full-time and going back to school. She’s the epitome of a UNCP Brave, and I’m so thankful I have the honor of calling her Momma.”
Patti is proud of her daughters.
“To see my girls succeeding in life and to be able to celebrate such a huge accomplishment together was a blessing from the Lord,” she said. “I know He is why we have made it to where we are now. In 2020, I didn’t even know if I could keep Cassidy in the Stanly Early College program with things we were facing personally. I am very thankful to the staff and faculty at the early college for everything they poured into both my girls and forever thankful to our church family (The Encounter Charlotte) who faithfully stood beside us through those adverse times.”
Cassidy is an employee at Stanly Community College, working in the Small Business Center and as a business professor.
“Receiving my MBA allows me to pursue a full-time career of teaching and higher education administration. I plan to continue my work at Stanly Community College and give back to my community by utilizing the education I received at SCC and UNCP,” she said.
Patti is a legal assistant at M.T. Lowder & Associates.
“I am honored to help those in my community by handling estates for families going through difficult times,” she said. “I have been here for five years and plan on continuing my employment at the law firm.”